Eugene Kim

About Eugene Kim

Eugene Kim is widely recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in California. He is a business litigation attorney with a proven track record of in resolving high-profile cases. Mr. Kim works in a wide range of practice areas, including real estate, intellectual property, environmental, tax, business and public law. He represents startups, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies in protecting and enforcing their legal rights.Mr. Kim is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, a legal information services company, for his legal ability and ethical standards; this rating is the highest that an attorney can achieve. He is also a graduate of the prestigious National Institute for Trial Advocacy.Mr. Kim is highly active in numerous professional and community organizations, including the Judicial Nominations and Evaluation Committee for the California State Bar and the board of Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Publications

• Winners and Losers of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, Orange County Korean American Bar Association Newsletter (2011)
• People v. Garcia, Southwestern University Law Review, 30 SW. U. L. Rev. 591 (2001)

Affiliations

• Judicial Nominations and Evaluation Committee, California State Bar (2016)
• San Bernardino County Bar Association, Vice President (2015 – 2016)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Regional Governor (2014 – 2016)
• Asian Pacific American Lawyers of the Inland Empire, Founder (2013), President (2014 – 2015), and Board Member (2013 – Present)
• Orange County Korean American Bar Association, President (2011 – 2012) and Board Member (2009 – Present)
• Riverside County Bar Association, Member (2012 – Present)
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Board Member (2014 – Present)
• Raincross Group, Member (2013 – Present)
• Pick Group of Young Professionals, President (2013 – 2014) and Founding Member (2009)
• Tech Coast Angels, Member (2012 – 2014)
• Asian Professional Exchange, Director of Corporate Relations (2009 – 2010)
• The Unforgettables Foundation, Board Member (2007 – 2010)

Presentations

• Beware: Lawyer Tricks and Tactics, Forensic Expert Witness Association, 2015
• Success is Not an Accident, Chapman Law School, 2015
• The Art of Licensing, Cal State San Bernardino Business School, 2013
• Legal Issues for Startups, Tech Coast Angels, 2013
• Public Service Announcement on Safe Deposit Boxes, 2011
• Landlord Tenant Law, Sixth Annual Community Law School, 2011

Honors

• Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016
• Inland Empire Magazine Top Lawyers in the region, 2015
• Martindale Hubbell “AV-Preeminent” rating, 2013 – Present
• Avvo “Superb 10.0” rating, 2013 – Present
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association “Best Lawyers Under 40” award recipient, 2013
• Orange County Korean American Bar Association Leadership Award recipient for outstanding service and commitment to the Korean American community, 2012
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy graduate, 2014
• Leadership Riverside Program Graduate, 2013
• Pick Board Development Training Program Graduate, 2009 – 2010
• Moot Court Honors Program Chair at Southwestern Law School, 2001 – 2002
• Blue Book Award recipient by Law Review at Southwestern Law School, 2001

Representative Matters

• Protect and Enforce Intellectual Property Rights: Managed global trademark portfolios for businesses and efficiently enforced and litigated cases to secure their brand identity across product and service lines.
• Partnership Dispute: Obtained a multi-million dollar judgment at trial on behalf of a deceased partner when the surviving partner refused to pay partnership expenses that involved two 13-acre commercial developments.
• Franchise Dispute: Negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement between two partners that owned numerous home healthcare franchises.
• Forgery Case: Successfully defended a restaurant owner at trial against an alcohol distributor that attempted to enforce a contract that was forged.
• Civil Rights Violation: Prevailed at trial in a case against the State of California involving a prisoner’s constitutional right to refuse medical treatment.
• Property Boundary Dispute: Negotiated a favorable settlement in a case involving a boundary dispute between a homeowner and a public agency when the homeowner purchased their property without knowledge of the encroachment.
• Breach of Contract Claim: Obtained a judgment against a party that failed to exercise an option to purchase a ground lease.
• Copyright/Trade Dress Violation: Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for a social game developer in a copyright and trade dress dispute that involved a popular Facebook app.
• Property Tax Assessment: Negotiated a multi-million dollar tax assessment dispute involving Proposition 8 and 13 valuations for outdoor advertising signs.
• Professional Negligence/Environmental Impact Report: Obtained a judgment at trial against a consultant that negligently drafted a Screen Check Draft Environmental Impact Report and a Final Environmental Impact Report.
• ADA Violations: Negotiated favorable settlements for numerous small businesses that allegedly violated the American with Disabilities Act.
• Mechanics Lien: Negotiated a favorable settlement with a real estate developer that recorded mechanics’ liens and allegedly performed work on a large scale timeshare condominium project.